|

EUR/USD Forecast: 3 reasons for King Dollar's comeback, nearing uptrend support

  • The EUR/USD is turning south as the US Dollar storms the board.
  • Higher yields, an optimistic Fed, and trade lead the USD higher. 
  • The technical picture is worsening, but uptrend support may serve as a cushion.

The EUR/USD is trading in the lower half of the 1.1600 handle, extending its falls. The move is solely driven by the US Dollar and the greenback has three reasons to rise.

1) Treasury Yields

The 10-year Treasury bond yields topped the round level of 3% on Wednesday, the highest level in six weeks. The rise of the global benchmark was driven by the announcement from the Treasury Department. The funding needs of the US have risen due to tax cuts and increased spending. Flooding the markets with bonds lowers their value and lifts yields.

2) Fed Decision

The Federal Reserve left the interest rates unchanged as broadly expected. They made minimal tweaks to the accompanying statement but these were upbeat. They now see the economy as "strong" rather than "solid". In addition, they have acknowledged that inflation is around the target. The previous wording regarding inflation talked about it "approaching" the target. 

The Fed is set to raise rates in September. Markets see roughly an 80% chance of that happening.

3) Trade wars

The White House confirmed early reports that the US plans to raise the planned tariffs on China from 10% to 25%. The duties are set to be slapped on no less than $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Negotiations are happening only on a low level. The dispute between the world's largest economies is weighing on stocks and the risk-off atmosphere benefits the US Dollar against all currencies, with the exception of the safe-haven Japanese yen.

Euro-zone data has been OK with final Manufacturing PMI confirmed at 55.1 points on Wednesday. There are no significant data points for Europe due today.

In the US, weekly Unemployment Claims are projected to remain at low levels. The bigger event is tomorrow, with the publication of the all-important Non-Farm Payrolls.

The absence of top-tier indicators today leaves the focus on the three main themes mentioned earlier.

EUR/USD Technical Analysis - Uptrend support getting close

EUR USD technical analysis August 2 2018

The bias is turning bearish against the pair. The Relative Strength Index in the 4-hour chart has dropped but remains above the oversold territory. Momentum has also tipped lower. 

The EUR/USD remains in the narrowing wedge after an upside attempt failed on Tuesday. After the recent drops, uptrend support is getting close, waiting for the pair just above 1.1600 at the time of writing.

Immediate support is at 1.1620 which was a low point last week. 1.1575 was the trough in the previous week. A breakdown will open the door to 1.1508, the lowest level that was seen this year. 

1.1665 capped the pair earlier in the week before it made an attempt to move higher. 1.1720 was another stepping stone on the way up and also a swing high in June. 1.1750 is a significant hurdle after capping the EUR/USD no less than four times in recent weeks.

Author

Yohay Elam

Yohay Elam

FXStreet

Yohay is in Forex since 2008 when he founded Forex Crunch, a blog crafted in his free time that turned into a fully-fledged currency website later sold to Finixio.

More from Yohay Elam
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD weakens to two-week lows near 1.3520

GBP/USD trades on the back foot, returning to the low 1.3500s, or two-week troughs, on Tuesday. Cable’s bearish price action follows decent gains in the Greenback at the time when investors assess latest US data releases and the persistent uncertainty in the US-Iran crisis.

EUR/USD remains offered; breaks below 1.1600

EUR/USD now accelerates its daily correction, breaching below the key 1.1600 support level on Tuesday. The pair’s daily correction comes on the back of a decent bounce in the US Dollar despite disappointing US data releases and amid persistent geopolitical concerns.

Gold eyes $4,300 breakdown amid Fed hike bets, Iran risks, firm USD

Gold languishes near a two-and-a-half-week low, touched during the Asian session on Wednesday, awaiting a break below $4,300 before the next leg down. Escalating US-Iran tensions lift oil prices to a nearly six-week high and fuel inflation fears, reaffirming Fed rate-hike bets. This acts as a tailwind for the safe-haven US Dollar and undermines demand for the non-yielding bullion.

WTI advances to mid-$90.00s, fresh high since July 24 amid escalating US-Iran tensions

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – the benchmark US Crude Oil price – scales higher for the third straight day – also marking the fifth day of a positive move in the previous six – and climbs to a fresh high since July 24 during the Asian session on Wednesday.

Middle East war takes its toll on Gold prices

The US Dollar accelerates its advance against the precious metal in the American session on Tuesday, following news indicating United States forces launched attacks on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran, as reported by the US Central Command. Explosions were reported on Qeshm Island, around the Strait of Hormuz, and across southern Iran.

Diesel’s record $100 warning: The oil shock hiding in plain sight

The Oil market may look calmer than it did a few months ago, but diesel is sending a very different message. The US diesel crack spread, the premium of ultra-low sulphur diesel futures over WTI, recently surged above $100 per barrel for the first time, reaching an intraday record of just over $102.00.